体坛英语资讯：South Africas Bafana coach faces first big test

Pitso Mosimane, who was appointed head coach of South Africa' s national team Bafana Bafana after the FIFA World Cup, faces his first big test when they play Niger in a 2024 African Nations Cup qualifier at the Mbombela stadium on Saturday night.

The venue is in Nelspruit in South Africa's Mpumalanga province.

Mosimane told the South African Press Association (SAPA) on Friday that he is prepared to take risks and attack.

However, if Niger, come to defend as expected and play for a point, then Mosimane has worked out a Plan B to counter the West Africans.

Mosimane said he is relishing the challenge and the pressure that goes with the job.

The new coach got his career off to a winning start when he guided Bafana to a 1-0 win over World Cup quarterfinalists Ghana in a friendly at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, last month.

Now he is prepared to go for broke looking for an early goal.

"The rule in international soccer is simple - three points at home and one away. I am going to attack and try and get that vital early goal," said Mosimane.

"I believe Niger will come here and park their bus in defense. I have worked hard this week with the players on a plan to find a way past their bus."

While Bafana will be positive, they will have to be careful, he said.

"We are going to attack, but at the same time we cannot afford to allow Niger to hit us on the counter."

He also said he had been working on the players' minds getting them prepared for what he said could be a difficult and frustrating 90 minutes.

"I think we will see a lot of time wasting tactics from Niger, lots of fouls and we have to be patient and not let those tactics upset us.

"We have one purpose and that is to win," he said.

Pitso Mosimane, who was appointed head coach of South Africa' s national team Bafana Bafana after the FIFA World Cup, faces his first big test when they play Niger in a 2024 African Nations Cup qualifier at the Mbombela stadium on Saturday night.

The venue is in Nelspruit in South Africa's Mpumalanga province.

Mosimane told the South African Press Association (SAPA) on Friday that he is prepared to take risks and attack.

However, if Niger, come to defend as expected and play for a point, then Mosimane has worked out a Plan B to counter the West Africans.

Mosimane said he is relishing the challenge and the pressure that goes with the job.

The new coach got his career off to a winning start when he guided Bafana to a 1-0 win over World Cup quarterfinalists Ghana in a friendly at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, last month.

Now he is prepared to go for broke looking for an early goal.

"The rule in international soccer is simple - three points at home and one away. I am going to attack and try and get that vital early goal," said Mosimane.

"I believe Niger will come here and park their bus in defense. I have worked hard this week with the players on a plan to find a way past their bus."

While Bafana will be positive, they will have to be careful, he said.

"We are going to attack, but at the same time we cannot afford to allow Niger to hit us on the counter."

He also said he had been working on the players' minds getting them prepared for what he said could be a difficult and frustrating 90 minutes.

"I think we will see a lot of time wasting tactics from Niger, lots of fouls and we have to be patient and not let those tactics upset us.

"We have one purpose and that is to win," he said.